drum & bugle corps

More than 3,000 performers will once again take the field Aug. 4 and 5 at J. Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown, for the DCI Eastern Classic Drum and Bugle Corps Championship, marking the event’s 41st anniversary.

The DCI Eastern Classic will be the final major competition before the 2017 DCI World Championship, which will be held at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., capping off the 100-event national tour for Drum Corps International. The seedings for the world championships will be determined in part by the scores achieved by each corps’ performance in Allentown.

Featured in the event will be the Lehigh Valley’s very own 10-time DCI World Champion Cadets and the 2016 DCA World Champion Cadets2, program offerings of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA) based in downtown Allentown. The remaining competing groups represent 15 states.

The competition begins 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4 with 10 drum corps performing.

The 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5 event will have the remaining 12 units in competition.

Gates open 5 p.m. each day.

There is an admission fee. Tickets are available by calling 317-275-1212, ext. 3, or visiting dci.org.

From modest beginnings more than three decades ago, Drum Corps International has developed into a powerful, nonprofit, global youth activity with far-reaching artistic, educational and organizational influence. Through the annual summer music games tour and more than 35 world championships in 16 North American cities, Drum Corps International provides entertainment to millions through live performances.